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The quitessential Edinburgh experience not to be missed! Well organized and well presented. We downloaded the audio tour in advance. There is a queue to see the crown jewels but be advised the line moves fairly quickly so do not be deterred. Views are amazing!
Very worthwhile visit to this historical site. More than just one castle; it is/was an ongoing project with Scottish royal additions and military installations over the centuries. Full of exhibits tucked away in hidden spots in the stairwells, the old prisons, and military barracks. Multitudes of museums housing the royal jewels, weapons, dress, and military units. Visited in August and purchased our tickets in June. It appears tickets sell out 3-4 weeks in advance. And the crowds get bigger by the hour inside. The 1pm firing of the cannon is a crowd-pleaser. And loud. Be prepared to take a lot of pictures.
We came on a Monday afternoon at 2pm. Within 45 minutes- 1 hour the place was packed. The views are great and they have plenty of memorabilia to observe. Wait times for the jewels were about 15 minutes with pretty long lines. We couldn't get through the entire prison section due to the amount of crowding inside. Overall, a cool experience but might recommend arriving close to open time to avoid the crowds.
Interesting place to visit but I would recommend getting tickets early and not depend upon a tour group wi to a guide. We did this just to get in. Guide was knowledgeable for the most part but basically dumped us in the castle which was fine. We stayed until they ran us out and roamed freely and saw everything. It's incredible how something like this is still standing. We thought it was awesome and if in Edinburgh you must see it.
Edinburgh Castle is the most visited attraction in Scotland, welcoming over 1.3 million visitors each year who come in search of views, royal history, and a glimpse at the 'Honours of Scotland' - Britain's oldest crown jewels. Edinburgh Castle is not only the dominant feature of the city's skyline, visible from miles around, it's also the feature which gives the city its name -- the old Gaelic name translates roughly as 'the fort on the hill'. trust me, you might underestimate this castle, and even i have kept 2 hrs for this, but it needs more time. With several museums, a large war memorial, a royal palace, a Great Hall & several other little stops/activities, if you want to actually see all of Edinburgh Castle's sights and attractions, you'll need much more than two hours... especially considering the line to see the Honours of Scotland (AKA the Crown Jewels) can last 20+ minutes. * Three regimental military museums * The National War Museum * The Scottish National War Memorial * The Honours of Scotland, featuring the Scottish crown jewels and Stone of Destiny * St Margaret's Chapel, the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh * Optional 30-minute introductory tours available throughout the day * Prisons of War exhibition * The Great Hall where banquets were held * The One O'Clock Gun, fired every day (except Sunday) at 1pm * Visit the small antechamber where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son, James VI of Scotland * Three gift shops and two cafes The oldest surviving structure at the castle (and the oldest in the city) dates back to the 12th century. It is of course St Margaret's Chapel, built by King David I in honour of his mother. This same king is the one credited with turning Edinburgh Castle into a royal residence. As the years rolled on, royals came and went, with new additions being made to the castle, creating the complex we see today. The Renaissance of the 1400s for instance brought us the Royal Palace that now houses various royal paintings and displays (including THE closet where Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to King James VI of Scotland, AKA King James I of England). The 1500s brought us the Great Hall, which was needed of course for fancy banquets. The 1600s brought new defences and barracks as the castle eased into its role of a military outpost more than swanky royal digs Tickets to Edinburgh Castle should be booked online before you arrive. Tip: these spots across the city offers great view of the castle- Calton Hill, The Grassmarket, Salisbury Crags, Castle Esplanade, Ross Fountain, St Cuthbert's Churchyard, The Vennel
We went here while on vacation with ages ranging from 2-75. Make sure you schedule your time. They are very strict about it. There is a lot of walking and mostly uphill. Plan for a few hours because it is huge. If you have young kids a stroller is a necessity. It is a beautiful sight and a must when you are in Edinburgh.
I visited this castle 20+ years ago and it was raining so didn't really see it in its fully glory. I was so happy that this time around, I visited on a sunny day! Place is simply magical and a visit not be missed when visiting Edinburgh. There is a lot to see and admire about this place. Although it was in the middle of February, it was super busy. I am glad that we had reserved tickets and that we were early on site. By the time we left, it was super crowded.
I'm embarrassed to say that we didn't get to see the castle the first time we were in Edinburgh. My mother was visiting us for the summer, and we did what she wanted to do thinking we would go back before leaving the UK. That never happened. I remember staring up at the castle longingly from Princes Street. There was no way we would miss this opportunity again 35 years later. It was so worth the long wait. We arrived at the castle close to 1:00 PM. It was just in time to see and hear the One O'Clock Gun on the Argyle Battery. What a cool experience! Our guide for this walking tour made it more special with his countdown to the last second. It was perfect. He gave us a brief overview of the castle and the exhibits. Then, we were on our own to explore everything it has to offer. There's even a whisky experience there. Honestly though, we were more thirsty for water at that point. We took the grand walk up the Royal Mile. There is a shorter route to get there from Grassmarket if you're staying in the West End of Edinburgh. We took that route on the way back down. The Royal Mile just has so many sights to see along the way. It's totally worth the longer walk. The castle is an experience. You could spend half a day there. We stayed for a couple of hours. I think people stay longer in August during the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. We were there at the low end of the tourist season in November. It had its advantages being that it's not as crowded. It typically rains a lot, but fortunately it was a good weather day (just partly cloudy). It was great! We saw the Scottish National War Memorial (no pictures allowed inside) and gallery. It was a highlight along with St. Margaret's Chapel. There is a Prisons of War exhibit in the vaults under Crown Square. It's here where you can see the prisoners graffiti on the doors behind a glass display. There also is a model of the HMS St. George that French POWs made while imprisoned at Edinburgh Castle. It dates back to 1760. It's an interesting exhibit that gives a visual of how they lived in these prisons with audio recordings in the background. Another highlight worth mentioning is the Dog Cemetery and Mons Meg. If that's not enough, then you can also see the crown jewels (or not). There are just so many more interesting things to see in my opinion than the jewels, but why not? It's all included in the admission price. It's a must visit in Edinburgh. I regretted not seeing it all these years. It was great to finally experience it.
Must-visit if you're in Edinburgh. We had reserved tickets to get in, and got lucky as it was a beautiful day, sandwiched between dreary rainy ones which are more common in this part of Great Britain. We enjoyed the history, the magnificent views of old and new town sprawled below us and the Firth of Forth beyond, the museum, and the One-O-Clock gun! Pro-tip: Book a late morning entry time so you can be there at 1 pm for the gun, duck indoors into the museum or gift shop if it rains, and dress in layers, as the weather can change in minutes.
If you are in Edinburgh for the night, you need to ensure you have tickets for Edinburgh Castle. You can't go to Edinburgh without visiting the Castle if you have never been. The Castle is a venerable place overlooking Edinburgh and beyond. A glorious view surrounds you at all angles as you make your way through the grounds. There are many places to check out both inside and outside where you will take more than a few pictures. When you think of gloriously grand castles that impose over the surrounding landscape, it's Edinburgh Castle. God help any invader back in the day from trying to invade the castle, they would fail miserably. There is much to enjoy at the castle between The Great Hall, Margaret's Chapel, the castle jail, the Esplanade, as well as the views that will knock your socks off. Make sure to buy tickets in advance. For a few dollars more, you can do a flexible entrance at any time during the day, which allows you to go visit whenever you like on that day.
A must-do while in Edinburgh. You could spend hours roaming the castle and various museums included within. We spend about three hours and it wasn't even that crowded. You start on the main level which has some great views of the city. From there, you can head up, stopping off at various side points which have story boards and short videos speaking to the castle history. Once at the top, more views of the city, a little shop, and a prayer building. If I am remember correctly, you'll also find the Scottish crown jewels in this area as well Back down, you have a few museums which cover history both long ago and more recent. You'll learn of the Scottish involvement in the world wars and see plenty of artifacts to help you make your stay a bit education. Again, a must-do while here!
The Edinburgh Castle is by far the largest draw of tourists walking up a steep embankment to capture a glimps of Scottish history. There is a cost to enter the castle, although free to wander the exterior grounds and take amazing pictures and videos. The castle was worth the exhausting walk, and even for me as an anti-historian who does enjoy cool stuff, I was strangely impressed. Breathtaking views of the 15th century city of Edinburgh surrounding the beloved castle. Oddly, the massive castle structure was choppy and square instead of the traditional pointed sectionals.
Edinburgh Castle is absolutely worth the visit. The atmosphere is eerie and powerful, and you can feel how much history is buried there. I did a guided tour with Marcus and he was my favorite part of the experience! He was incredibly knowledgeable, funny, and genuinely excited to share history beyond castle walls. We talked about Scottish and English rulers, Scottish clan warfare, conflicts with England, and the castle's role in our world wars. Crazy! If you're traveling to Scotland, this is a must-see, and a guided tour is 100% worth it--definitely book it!
Our tour group leader uses the Roxburghe Hotel for his tours of the area. We had several meals in this restaurant. The breakfast selection were very good and there was plenty of it. The service was prompt and probably exceeds most hotel run restaurants. Overall, a good place to be while touring the city. read more
13 years ago
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16 years ago
I have some extremely fond memories of Edinburgh Castle, and I've been here quite a few times throughout my life. My dad's in the army and so we used to come pretty often for social functions where my sister and I would get to meet a whole load of grown ups. The food which they put on at those things is incredible with canapes, exotic drinks and big roast dinners for all lucky enough to attend. Edinburgh Castle is where the Military Tattoo is held where different regiments put on an impressive display of marching, throwing their rifles in the air and firing huge guns. It takes amazing coordination and has a real sense of occassion about it. The Castle is also a huge tourist attraction as you get a great view of the city and it offers plenty of information regarding its history and why it was built in the first place. read more
9 years ago
10 years ago
Not only is this Edinburgh's number one tourist attraction it's the number one tourist attraction in the whole of Scotland. Located on top of a long dormant volcano the Castle dominates the Edinburgh skyline. Whilst this also affords great views of the city the Castle itself is steeped in history and is a must see for any visitor or local. Don / www.edinburghphotowalks.com read more
8 years ago
8 years ago
This place is amazing and beautiful. So much history here! We saw the one o clock gun, Saint Margaret's Chapel, POW museum, Mons Meg, the crown jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Scone. Amazing! read more
8 years ago
15 years ago
Located at the top of the Royal Mile which involves walking up a steady incline on cobbled road, which could be troublesome for those with mobility issues. The castle is one of Edinburgh's top tourist attractions and has a lot of information on the castle and its rich history. There are also a few museum sections within the castle that are worth seeing. The price is very expensive, especially for families on a budget and there is not a lot to engage children, particularly those who find it difficult to concentrate for long periods. The cafe inside the castle is also very expensive, so it's worth keeping hidden costs in mind. Some lovely exhibits. jewels are especially worth seeing. But can get very busy, particularly on weekends and during peak season/school holidays. read more
4 years ago
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8 years ago
This was a great family morning...much of it is outside and them exploring different areas inside so definitely bring a jacket. You can take photos of almost everything except crown jewels and included entrance to the war museum. The views of the city are amazing! A must do in Edinburgh! read more
4 years ago
8 years ago
Amazing place to be History truly beckons. Loved my visit today . Definitely recommended to see is the prisoners of war and their tearoom ( cakes are delicious ) read more
19 years ago
Edinburgh Castle is an amazingly beautiful and stunning place. The most famous building in our lovely city, Edinburgh Castle is so close at hand, sometimes we forget to visit it! But there's lots to enjoy here, for young and old. Wander around the grounds try and time you visit for the famous 1 o'clock gun, then explore inside, where you'll find the Scottish Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny and the National War Museum of Scotland. There's also a good cafe with tastey food and snacks. Most weekends during the summer months there are extra events, such as a Jacobean soldier talking about his cause and the clothes he wears, or historical re-enactments. Visit their website for an up-to-date guide to events at Edinburgh Castle and at Historic Scotland's many other properties in and around the area. It is slightly expensive but well worth the money and you leave with the most amazing memories of the most beautiful place in our City. Oh yeh and also i recommend you wear comfy shoes for all that walking... read more
8 years ago
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9 years ago
I loooooved our trip to Scotland! The Edinburgh Castle was first on our list of things to do. There is much to see and so many stories to hear, so take your time. Make sure to stay for the firing of the cannon at 1pm. It's really cool. The view from the castle is also amazing. This is a major tourist attraction so it can be pretty busy so give yourself a good 2 hours or so. The people who work here are super friendly and are more than willing to talk to you about the castle's history or Scotland. So feel free to say hello to them and have a chat. read more
4 years ago
8 years ago
Must see! And go on the FREE tour! Tons of awesome info and so much to look at! You can even hold a sword and have tea! read more
10 years ago
Edinburgh is split into two main areas - New Town and Old Town and they are divided by this magnificent castle for the most part. We had a guided tour of the main parts of the castle which was very helpful in figuring out our plan of attack. We had only planned to stay an hour or so in the castle, but we ended up spending more than 3. Our guide took us up the walkway all the way to the top, explaining bits and pieces as we went along. From the top she told us about the war memorial, the crown jewels, restaurants, whisky shopping and which direction we could find everything. Our first stop was the building that houses the crown jewels. What was absolutely amazing about the crown jewels, other than being the crown jewels, is that they were literally hidden in a chest for 100+ years and never misplaced. Wouldn't you have loved to be the guy that opened that chest!?! Surprise! From there we went into the great hall and looked at the weapons and armor. The war memorial was next since all three buildings are in the same area. The war memorial is the newest building on the lot (built in 1927) and was created to honor the sacrifice of the Scots who died in the Great war. They've added additional sections for WWII and the more recent conflicts as well. When the building was commissioned they asked that it be designed so that it blends into the other buildings at the castle. No one in our group guessed that it was the youngest building on the lot so they did a good job. After these three buildings we were free to roam on our own. We visited St. Margaret's Chapel which is the oldest surviving building in Scotland (built around 1130) and had lunch in the tea room. We peeked in any of the open rooms we could find and glanced around the pet cemetery (where soldiers buried their dogs). There are quite a few mannequins in the rooms but they didn't bother us at all. We couldn't get enough of the view from the castle and discovered we were closet history buffs. They have a small gift shop by the portcullis and bathrooms scattered around as well. Scotland is on our list to visit again, and I would love to go back to the castle and see the rooms and areas that we weren't able to cover on the first trip. read more
8 years ago
9 years ago
9 years ago
I can only comment on this from the exterior views. I didn't go inside the castle, but I appreciated the wonderful views from the entrance. The area also offers amazing views of the city below. The road extending from the castle is the Royal Mile. It's great for seeing heritage buildings & shopping for souvenirs; however, it is very touristy & the street is filled with people. Be prepared for busy company. read more
If you haven't been to the castle before, it's a must do. Very awesomely castle-y. We took a tour (the guides are excellent) and looked all around the place, spending several hours. Got a bit bogged down in the military museum part and finally told my husband we had to get out of there. At least we discovered a smashed penny machine in there...perfect souvenir for our collector kid. It's a challenge to take photos here unless you want them to be full of tourists. Now that I've been twice, I think my next trip to Edinburgh could be complete without the castle. ;) read more
18 years ago
If you thought Jabba the Hutt was cute, you'll love this castle.(http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=jabba%20the%20hutt%20&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDEQFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FJabba_the_Hutt&ei=eoR9UfPSEej5igK8r4GwCw&usg=AFQjCNGD4ZiwivtPoGz74u5bi7KRcpibUA&sig2=hgptCUgTKUSYrpd-blowGw&bvm=bv.45645796,d.cGE) It's big and ugly and squats like a fattened toad on a hill. I imagine only a Highlander would love the looks (picturing a blue-faced, adrenaline-fueled Mel Gibson as William Wallace). It is the very antithesis of Germany's Neushwantstein (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=neu%20shwantstein&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CD4QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FNeuschwanstein_Castle&ei=lZd8UaDiA-aniALDoICwBQ&usg=AFQjCNE9ywT1MNwjBMZDhX6rCxzjykpPRA&sig2=PWYj6cNmR-WHerxEQVKTOg&bvm=bv.45645796,d.cGE). If Walt Disney conjured a world of beautiful damsels dangling long, golden hair from ivory-white towers ala Neushwanstein, he'd make Edinburgh Castle the home of the Orcs. There is nothing pretty about it. It's truly formidable. It was made to intimidate and that it does. It's muy macho. It even has a big ole cannon down there with these huge balls that they whip out now and then, a cannon so big... so big ... that it sank into the road before it could get to the battle. It even has a name, the Mons Meg (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=scottish%20cannon&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FMons_Meg&ei=awSEUfOKNaa7igLIy4C4BA&usg=AFQjCNFrKxnPvFMFtPdZrWwoxYxFJRKJSQ&sig2=s0i1sGATtQrKvMmehe_bpw&bvm=bv.45960087,d.cGE). Oh well, it was a gift anyway, easy come-easy go. If you're in Edinburgh, you'll go see it, admire the views, envision English or Nordic invaders storming the walls, maybe catch the "Tattoo" http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=the%20military%20tattoo&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CEUQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FRoyal_Edinburgh_Military_Tattoo&ei=UAKEUfG7H4fYigKp1IGgAQ&usg=AFQjCNGVEJvFbP2WzSIoH9-P-0Ukko86zA&sig2=oZ8e9aUh3_3C1NrTW2jyNw&bvm=bv.45960087,d.cGE And just like their friends down south, they keep their Crown Jewels (their "Honours") buried behind bigass rock walls. Only these jewels are meh compared to the English. (I can't believe I used "meh" describing someone's crown jewels). I'm not meaning to demean these scepters and crowns and stuff, they are just less eye-popping than those in London. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=scottish%20honours&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CEYQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.royal-mile.com%2Fcastle%2Fcastle-crownjewels.html&ei=mwKEUZvPCcjxiQKqm4HYBw&usg=AFQjCNFBKfAOZgBDOPyU6-0jRUCDoBL4PQ&sig2=gfNON3lz37S2WH0KhkRVmw&bvm=bv.45960087,d.cGE We took the obligatory photos and walked the Royal Mile, Edinburgh's Rodeo Drive http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=royal%20mile&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CD0QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.edinburgh-royalmile.com%2F&ei=LwCDUfXXMqLoigKI04CYCA&usg=AFQjCNFXSVxQzZMxfguHQuWDVfUaTOiTIA&sig2=zhpuSJfUxKmGfmp64hq0KQ&bvm=bv.45960087,d.cGE. where we shopped a bit, bought some tartan cloth for a skirt, a silver thistle brooch for me mum (I mean "my mom", sorry) and headed out for some pub fare and a wee dram or two. (Another review will describe the Tower of London (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Jewels_of_the_United_Kingdom). This is where the Beefeater guard pointed his spear-thingie at me and told me to step away from the display. I felt so dirty, ha ha. read more
More info about Edinburgh Castle
Castle Hill
Edinburgh EH1 2HG
United Kingdom
Old Town, Royal Mile
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